Apartment house telephone



1932- J. o. CADIEUX 1.857,107

APARTMENT HOUSE TLPHONE Filed June 4, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet l fase/a/0 0.Mzleag May 3, 1932. J. o. CADIEUX APARTMENT HOUSE TLPHONE Filed June 4,1950 2 Sheets-Sheet A A Il uud Ptented May 3, 1932 UNIIED STATES PATENTorner.

JOSEPH O. CADIEJX, 01: MERIDEN, OONNECIICUT, ASSIGNOR T CONNECIICUT TELLPHONE &: E4EC'BIC CORPORATION, OF.MERIDEN, CONNECIIOU'I, A CORPORATIONOF DELAWBE Application 1lled June 4,

My invention relates to systems and apparatus particularly for use inwhat are commonly termed apartment bouses, where it is customary to havethe telephone transmitter and receiver in the vestibule connected totransmitters and receivers of the respective apartments. The pushbuttons are located in the vestibule for controlling the signal devicesin the various apartments. It is also customary to provide push buttonsat the tradesmens entrance for attracting the attention of the occupantsof the various apartments. It is also customary to employ push buttonsat the entrance to each individual apartment for ringing the bell orother s1gnal in the corresponding apartment.

One of the objects of my invention is to combine features such as abovementioned and provide a.-diffe'rent charaeter of signal to indicate theapproach of the visitor to the vestibule and to the apartment door.

Another object is to provide means for automatically connecting anddiscon'necting the signal devices so that there is no possibility ofinterference between them in the normal and expected use of such asystem.

Another object is to provide means for enabling the occupant of theapartment t0 deterfnine when the vestibule door is open.

In carrying out the invention I ut1lize the diaphragm of the apartmentreceiver as one of the signal devices which is operable by pressing oneof the vestibule buttons when the receiver is on the hook in theapartment. A se arate bell or buzzer is provided operated liy .a pushbutton at the apartment door.

Separate sources of current are preferably provided for the t-Wo signaldevices and the hook switch is 50 connected that the apartment receiveris in circuit with one source of power and its vestibule push buttonwhen the hook switch is down and the apartment receiver is in circuitwith the apartment transmitter and the other source of current and thevestibule transmitter and receiver when the hook switch is up. Theapartment bell is in circuit with one source of current withoutinterfering with the telephone talking circuit.

I have also combined with these circuits a 'nmmmrr nousE rmmnom' 1930.smu No. 459,143.-

door release or opener device actuatedbypush buttons in the variousapartments and a signal li ht in each apartment adapted to be hghte bythe dcpressing of a push switch in the apartment when the vestibule dooris open.

In the drawings Fig. 1 is an interior view of the part of the apparatusto be installed in an individual apartment.

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view of the parts of an apartment unitshowing the reciver and the hook switch.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary front view showing the Wall connecting plate andsignal light.

Fig. 4 is a detail plan view.

Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic view showing the circuits of a typical systemembodying my invention.

The instrument in each apartment prefer- -ably consists of a casinghaving a back plate 10 and a front portion 11 secured together withtubular studs 12-12 which are secured to the back plate and the screws1313 which pass through the front plate into these studs. Thetransmitter 14 may be of any suitable type preferably mounted inside thecasing. The receiver 15 may be of any suitable construction having adiaphragm 16.

The vestibule instrument is preferably of the type of my Patent#1,181,947 having a transmitter 14 and a receiver 15 which arepreferably of the the so-called cordless type cnnected in the circuit inany satisfactory manner.

The bell 17 is also preferably mounted in the casing and surrounds thetransmitter clement 14.

The current for operatin the diaphragm 16 as a buzzer and for ringmg thebell 17 is furnished by the secondary of the transformer 18 fromordinary power lines or otherwise. The push button switch 19 in thevestibule has its contacts connected in circuit with the secondary ofthe transformer 18 and with the coil of the receiver 15 and the hookswitch 20 when the receiver is in the position shown in Fig. 2.

The battery 21 is in series with the vestibule transmitter and receiverand the apartment transmitter and receiver when the hook switch isreleased, as will be understood hereinafter.

The switch 22 in the apartment controls a circuit through the dooropener coil 23 and also 9. circuit through the door controlled switch 24and a signal light 25.

' closed through the secondary of the power transformerl8 and throughthe circuit of the signal bell 17. When the switch 22 is pressed thecircuit is completed through'the magnet of the door opener 23 and thesecondary of the transformer 18 so as to permit the vestibule door to beopened. If this switch 22 is held closed the light 25 will flash as soonas the door opens and closes the circuit through the door switch 24.

The numbers and letters within the circles in Fig. 5 represent themarkings of the respective terminals of the instruments for the purposeof tracing circuits when installing the apparatus. T indicates thetransmitter connection in the vestibule instrument; B indicates thetalkin battery connection; R, the ringing circuit; %1 represents theconnection t0 suite 1, etc.

In the practical form of apartment instrument shown an insulating blockis secured to the back plate 10 by rivets 31. The circuit wires are ledinto the casing through the opening 32, spring contacts fingers orsockets 33 are secured to the block 30 by rivets 34 and rovided withbinding screws 35 for conven- 1ence in wiring.

The front member of the casing is provided with a series of plug-inblades 36 serv-' ing as terminals for the casing electrical connectionsshown in Fig. 1. These blades 36 may be anchored to inserts 37 mouldedinto the casing part.

The bell 17 'is secured by screws 38 t0 cross piece 40 supported on theflange 41 in the casing. The coil 42 of the vibrator for actuatingthe'bell is supportcd by a bracket 43 which is suitably secured in thecasing. The vibrator armature 44 serves as a striker for the bell andactuates make and break vibrator switch 45. A conductor strip 46connects the plug-in blade No. 2 with the bar 43 which is electricallyconnected to the armature and the movable contact of the vibrator switch45. The stationary contact of the vibrator switch is connected to oneend of the coil 42 and the other end of the coil is connected b theconductor strip 47 to the plug}-in bla e No. 3.

1 e cord 50 which carries the conductor to the receiver 15 bas une end51 connected to the plug-in blade No. 2 and the other end 52 connectedto the binding post 53 and theswitch contact sprin 54. Another switchcontact spring 55 is'e ectrically connected to plugin blade No. 5. Thetwo conductor members 51 and 52 may be conveniently me chanicallyanchored to clip 56 in the casing. The hook switchcontact spring 57 iselectncally connected by conductor strips 58 and 59 to one terminal ofthe microphone transmitter 14 whose other terminal is connected by strip60 to plugin blade No. 6.

The switch actuating lever 61 is pivoted on the pin 62.within the tube63 and under tension of the sprin 64 so that the frontend of the lever61 ten S te rise under pressure of the spring and is depressed by theweight of the receiver 15 which has a 100p 65 adapted to be hung on thelever.

A secondary lever 66 mounted on the stud 67 has a receiver cord attachedto it by the extension 68 so that when the receiver is left off the hookits -weight will pull the lever 66 into the position shown in Fig. 1where it is point.

The push button switch 22, previously referred t0, has a spring arm 70connected to the pIug-in blade No. 1 and is actuated by push button 71.The bus bar 72 serves as a stationary contact of the switch 22. Themovable or spring contact member 70 is also arranged when .dcpressed toengage a stationary contact 73 which is connected b. conductors 74 and75 to the plugin blade o. 4. The bus bar 72 is connected by conductor 76to the plug-in blade No. 2.

The signal lamp 25 hais terminal clips 78 and 79 connected respectivelyto the wall socket terminals 7' and 4 which receive the plg-in blades 7and 4 respectively. The lamp 25 may conveniently be of the typefrequently used in telephone practice for signaling and a guard 100p 80may be secured to the back of the wall plate to protect the same.

It will be seen that the construction herein shown and described issubstantially of the plug-in type of my Patent #1,7l7,091 but it shouldbe understood that the present invention is not limited to this type ofconstruction.

It will be understood that the invention is of course applicable to anynumber-of suites or.apartments and that the circuits may be connected toannunciators not shgWn, as is nal energy.

customary in apartment house telephone practice.

It will be seen that this system provides for two distinctive types ofsignals without addihg to the parts ordinanly employed. The receiver andits diaphragm provide for a buzzing type of signal actuated byalternating current from the transformer to notify the occupant of theapartment that someone is waiting at the vestibule. 'The bell 17 signalindicates that someone is waiting at the.

-door to the particular apartment. When the. receiver is taken' from thehook to listen the signal circuit to the receiver is disconnccted andthe talking circuit completed so that it becomes impossible for anyonet0 energize the receiver diaphragm with the signaling current when thereceiver is in use for telephone reception.

The bell circuit through coil 42, however, is in condition for operationat all times and preferably derives its circuit from the sametransformer which sup lies the receiver sig- When A. is used for theringing circuit, of course the make and break switch 45 is not necessaryand if desired it may be shunted by a connection S, as shown by thedotted line in Fig. 1, so that current passes from 43 through the magnetframe, through shunt S direct to the coil 42 and thence to condflctorstrip 47.

The transformer 18 also preferably furnishes the current for actuatingthe door opener 23 and the signal Iight 25. For convenience ininstallation and operation it is preferred that the transformer forsignaling and the talking battery be both located adjacent the vestibuleor janitors suite and arranged to supply current for the apparatus forall the apartments as well as the vestibule devices.

Bradly considered, it should be understood that 'various forms of hookswitches might be employed as shown herein or as shown in Fig. 13 of myapplication #442,010 filed April 5, 1930, in which I have claimedcertain features of the visual signal system. It should also beunderstood that broadly considered the apartment telephone transmittermay be located within the casing as shown herein or in combination ahand instrument as shown in Fig. 12 of my application #442,010.

' in which case of course the switch actuated by the receiver is locatedin the base of the portable instrument or such a combination handreceiver and transmitter may be em ployed with a wall type casingcontaining the signal bell and hook switch as shown in my Patent1,824,705.

I clai1n:

1. An apartment house telephone systen comprising vestibule andapartment transmitters and receivrs and circuits thercfor including asource -of current. a vestibule switch and an apartment hook switch for2. An apartment house telephone system comprising vestibule andapartment translnitters and receivers, a talking battery and circuitstherefor, a source of signalling current, a vestibule switch and anapartment hook switch for connecting the apartment receiver in circuitwith the source of signalling current and the vestibule switch when thereceiver is on the hook switch, said hook switch having contacts foropening the signalling circuit and closing the talking circuit when thehook switch is up.

3. An apartment house telephone system comprising a vestibuletransmitter and receiver a series of apartment transmitters andrece1vers, a talking battery and circuits therefor, a. source ofsignalling current, an apartment hook switch for connecting theapartment receiver in circuit with the source of signalling current,vestibule switches with connections t0 energize the apartment receiverswhen the receivers are hung up, said hook switches having contacts foropening the respective signalling circuits and closing the respectivetalking circuits.

4. In an apartment house telephone system, a transmitter, a receiver,and circuits therefor includinga source of current, a vestibule switchand an apartment hook switch for connecting the apartment receiver incircuit with the source of current, said hook switch having contacts foropening the circuit through the vestibule switch and closing the talkingcircuit, a signal bell connected with the source of current and a localapartment switch for controlling the circuit through the signal bellWithout interfering with the receiver.

5. In an apartment house telephone system, a transmitter, a receiver, atalking battery therefor, a source of signalling current, a vestibuleswitch and an apartment switch for connecting the apartment receiver incircuit with the source of signalling current and the vestibule switch,said apartment switch having'contacts for opening the signalling circuitand closing the talking circuit.

6. In an apartment telephone system, an apartment transmitter andreceiver, an audible signal device, a visual signal device, an intcriormanually operable switch, an exterior local switch for controlling thesignal device, a manually operable stibule switch, a dom actuated switchfor flashing the visual signal device, a door release device controlledby the interio'r manually operable switch,a source of signalling currentfor all of said devices, a. talking battery,* for the transmitter andreceiver and an apartme nt switch for connecting the receiver in circuitwith the vestibule switchand the source of signalling current and forconnecting the talking battery to the receiver and cutting out thesignalling current.

' 7. In an apartment bouse telephone system, the combination of areceiver, a. 'transmitter and an audible signal device a. source ofalternating current for actuatmg the receiver as.a buzzer, a source ofdirect current for the talking circuit and a switch for disconnectingthe receiver from the source of alternating ,current and connecting itto the source of direct current.

' JOSEPH O. CADIEUX.

